Valdez Dealt to Reds for Lefty

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. continues to tinker with his bench and add to his bullpen, trading fan favorite Wilson Valdez to Cincinnati on Wednesday in exchange for lefty Jeremy Horst.

Horst, 26, pitched in 12 games for the Reds last season, posting a 2.93 ERA. He spent the bulk of the year in Class AAA where he was 1-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 36 appearances. He’ll join Dontrelle Willis and Antonio Bastardo as potential left-handers in this season’s Phillies bullpen.

In acquiring Horst, the Phillies say goodbye to veteran infielder Wilson Valdez, who has been the team’s jack-of-all-trades for much of the past two seasons.

Often cited as the team’s MVP by manager Charlie Manuel, Valdez’s numbers never lived up to such billing, but his effort always did.

In two seasons with the Phillies, Valdez batted .254 with five homers while playing four different positions, including most famously a one-inning pitching performance that earned him a win, coincidentally against his new team, the Reds. In that game, Valdez became the first player since Babe Ruth to begin a game in the field and then earn a win on the mound.

“They asked me to pitch and I said, ‘Yeah, why not,’” Valdez said after the 19-inning affair. “I knew we didn’t have anyone in the pen.”

Valdez’s versatility and easy-going attitude made him a favorite among fans and players alike. At 33, Valdez has never been an everyday player, but his youthful looks and high-energy style often earned him the salutation of “kid,” with teammates going so far as to begin a tongue-in-cheek campaign to have him named rookie of the year last season.

The Phillies just reached an agreement with Valdez on a one-year deal for $930,000 to avoid arbitration last week, meaning they’ll save about $500,000 in the deal.

Horst was a former 21st-round draft pick by the Reds in 2007 but has adjusted well at each step up through the minors. He’ll likely enter spring training among a crowd of young relievers vying for a spot in the suddenly crowded Phillies pen.

With Valdez’s departure, the Phillies will likely turn over utility duties to either Pete Orr or last year’s Rule 5 pick-up, Michael Martinez. Shortstop prospect Freddy Galvis, last year’s minor league offensive player of the year, could also be in the mix.